You know the drill - just when you think you’ve tried it all in the craft beer world, something new pops up and takes you by surprise. Enter the white stout. This beer style is flipping the script, delivering all the rich, bold flavours you’d expect from a stout - without the dark, heavy look. If you’ve been following Hawkers beer, you’ll know white stout is one of our latest obsessions and it might just be the next must-have in your beer fridge. So, what’s all the fuss about? Let’s break it down.
What Even is a White Stout?
If you’re thinking, “White stout? Isn’t that an oxymoron?” - you’re not wrong. White stout, sometimes called blonde stout, is a bit of a head-scratcher at first glance. It looks like a pale ale, with a light golden colour, but don’t be fooled. As soon as you take that first sip, you’ll get hit with all the coffee, chocolate, and vanilla flavours you’d expect from a traditional stout. It’s like magic in a glass - big stout taste, but without the roasted malt bitterness and heaviness.
How do we pull off this flavour flip? Instead of using dark roasted malts, which typically give traditional stouts their signature colour, white stout is brewed using pale malts, which give the beer a lighter, golden colour, while still incorporating ingredients that bring out those rich, stout-like flavours. The result is a beer that looks like a pale ale but tastes like a stout, often with a smoother, lighter body. We take it a step further by ageing the beer in bourbon barrels, adding depth and complexity to the flavour profile.
Why White Stout is Taking Over the Craft Beer Scene
You know how craft beer is all about innovation? Well, white stout is a prime example of brewers playing around with tradition and coming up with something new and exciting.
Here’s why white stout is having its moment:
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All of the flavour, none of the weight
White stout delivers complex, bold flavours without the heft. Stouts are known for being heavy, but white stout gives you that satisfying stout experience with a lighter body. It’s a great option if you love a stout’s taste but don’t always want to feel like you’ve had a meal in a glass. -
It’s a trick for the eyes and taste buds
Picture this: You pour a glass of what looks like a pale ale, and you’re expecting something light and hoppy. Then you take a sip, and boom - there’s the coffee, chocolate, and vanilla flavours of a stout. That unexpected twist is part of the fun and why white stout is catching on fast. It keeps things interesting. -
Appeals to both sides of the beer spectrum
Stouts aren’t for everyone. Some people find them too intense or heavy. White stout bridges that gap. It’s approachable for people who might shy away from traditional dark stouts, but it still hits the spot for those who love a rich, flavourful brew. Basically, it’s a crowd-pleaser. -
Creativity
The craft beer world is known for pushing boundaries, and white stout is a playground for that creativity. In our recent ‘Neapolitan Bonaparte’ white stout series, we did white stout three ways, emulating the traditional Neapolitan ice cream flavours with chocolate, vanilla-caramel and strawberry variations with lactose thrown in for creaminess.
Hawkers Take on White Stout
At Hawkers Beer, we’re pioneering the white stout revolution, with our own twist. Our Bourbon Barrel Aged White Stout takes everything you love about white stout - those bold flavours of vanilla, coffee, and chocolate - and kicks it up a notch by ageing it in bourbon barrels. This limited-release brew brings out an extra layer of warmth and complexity, making it one seriously smooth sip. It’s like drinking dessert, but with a bourbon twist.
But we didn’t stop there. Our Double Bourbon Barrel Aged White Stout flew off the shelves faster than we could say “cheers!” and for good reason. Double the bourbon, double the boldness, double the love. This one had even more depth and flavour, with that signature creamy, velvety finish. It was a hit, and we can’t wait to share what’s next for our white stout experiments.
The Future is Bright for White Stout
We’re calling it now - white stout isn’t just a flash in the pan. As more breweries get creative with this style, it’s only going to keep gaining momentum. It’s a perfect example of how the craft beer scene is always evolving, blending tradition with innovation to create something entirely new.
